Chiefs and people of Tongo celebrate "Glob festival"

The Chiefs and people of Tongo traditional area celebrated their annual "Glob festival" with a call on Ghanaians to co-exist peacefully to help promote peace, unity, love and development.

The festival which was celebrated on the theme “Golob, a festival for unity, peace and development among the Talensis, brought together Chiefs, Opinion leaders, Heads of departments, DCEs among others.

During the celebration of the "Golob" festival, a ban is often placed on marriages, funerals and fighting and people caught in such acts are made to pay a fine for the pacification of the gods.

The Paramount Chief of the Tongo Traditional Area, Tongo-Raana Kolbilsong Namalteng, explained that the main purpose of the festival, which is usually celebrated prior to the onset of rainy season, was meant to drum home the need for peace and to thank God for the previous year’s bountiful harvest and to ask for blessing in the ensuing season.

He said during the festival the gods of the land are invoked for peace, prosperity and blessing not only for the area but the country at large. He said apart from the merry making during the festival; songs are composed to be sung against immoral acts including rape, murder, stealing, and wife battering among others.

Tongo-Raana Kolbilsong Namalteng, who was the NPP MP for the Talensi constituency, appealed to the departmental heads in the district to get into partnership with the traditional council to contribute towards building the district, especially in education and agriculture.

The District Chief Executive of Talensi, Edward Awunoore, assured the chiefs and his elders that he and the various heads of departments will work together to move the developmental agenda of the area forward.

The Upper East Regional Minister, Albert Abongo, thanked the chief and his elders for organising the festival since it is meant to prompt people to shun away from immoral and indiscipline.

He assured the people that the government was committed to creating jobs especially for the youth and that was why it had granted mining concession to people in the area to engage the youth in employment.

He said government will also expand the agricultural sector in the region.

Mr. Abongo expressed worry about the recent clashes in Bolgatanga, which claimed one person’s life leaving several others injured. He described the situation as unacceptable.

The Regional Minister said government in collaboration with the security agencies was putting measures in place to find a lasting solution to conflicts in the country particularly, Northern Ghana.

He advised the MMDAs to take early warning signals of conflicts seriously and liaise with the RCC to avert trouble.

He said the government was working hard to improve the lives of the people, and urged the MMDAs to work seriously to fulfil the manifesto of the National Democratic Congress.

Mr. Abongo urged the youth to shun violence as the nation is preparing ahead of the November polls.